BuildingOne Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

I Thessalonians 5:11

Your Words Put People on Their Feet

Dear Friend,                

Do your words lift the spirit or crush the spirit? Or just “lie there,” neither encouraging nor discouraging? Your words, both the words themselves and how you speak them, your tone of voice, have tremendous power.

Someone once said, “Our God created the world with a word and you create your world with your words.” And indeed, you do!

I love the words that Job’s friend Eliphaz spoke to Job: “Your words have put stumbling people on their feet.” Job 4:4*

Think of it! Your words can put people on their feet – or knock them off their feet.

Re-visit the words you are using when you are speaking face-to-face or by text, Zoom, FaceTime, Facebook and other social media. Do they build up or do they tear down?

Hear your own “tone of voice” – how your speech sounds(firm, warm, whiny, shrill).

Decide that you will be known as a person whose words put people on their feet. As the scripture says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11

Joy to you - E. Stanley Ott

© Copyright 2020 E.Stanley Ott
*Scripture from The Message

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Think about the people in your life - family, friends, associates, neighbors and so on? What kind of language do you use with each one? Are your words kind, upbuilding, encouraging, bracing? Or are your words negative, critical, hurtful? Your words can put people on their feet. We urge you to be known as one who does exactly that!

When you talk to people with whom you disagree or talk to people about other people with whom you disagree, how do you refer to the other people? With words of condemnation, criticism and ridicule? Find a way to speak words that express your difference of opinion yet without diminishing their value as a human being made in the image of God.